Best of Technical Support

What files do I need to get started? Where do I get them? How
do I install them? —Michael Hall

Linux is best installed from a distribution, which is a
collection of usable kernels, software and utilities. Distributions
generally have decent installation programs that allow you to set
up and install the packages that come with them.

There are many distributions, such as Slackware, Red Hat,
Debian and others. If you are new to Linux and have no Unix
experience, you may wish to buy a book on Linux since that book
will come with a Linux CD and easy installation
instructions.

If you want to do this on your own, visit the primary Linux
FTP site, http://sunsite.unc.edu/, or a mirror of this site. Look
in the /pub/Linux/distributions directory. Each distribution has
different requirements and installation procedures, so you will
have to look for README (and other) files there.

For experienced computer users who want to get into Linux
without a book, I recommend Slackware. It can be installed from
almost any media, even DOS-formatted floppy disks, and it's
somewhat easier to figure out than other distributions when you go
it alone. —Chad Robinson, BRT Technologies chadr@brt.com

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Webinar: 8 Signs You’re Beyond Cron

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11am CDT, April 29th

Join Linux Journal and Pat Cameron, Director of Automation Technology at HelpSystems, as they discuss the eight primary advantages of moving beyond cron job scheduling. In this webinar, you’ll learn about integrating cron with an enterprise scheduler.